Steel Mills

USS shuffles some leadership roles after close of Nippon deal

Written by Ethan Bernard

June 26, 2025

U.S. Steel has announced changes to its senior leadership team following the closing of the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker’s “partnership” with Japan’s Nippon Steel.

USS said on Tuesday that Jessica Graziano, SVP and CFO, and Duane Holloway, SVP, general counsel, and chief ethics and compliance officer, will be leaving the company in the coming weeks.

Graziano and Holloway will both stay on as “special advisors” through July 18.

At the same time, U.S. Steel said Kevin Lewis has been appointed EVP and chief financial officer and tubular solutions, effective immediately.

He joined the company 17 years ago and has held positions across finance, strategy, investor relations, and financial planning and analysis (FP&A).

“Kevin played a vital role in finalizing our partnership with Nippon Steel; he was our day-to-day quarterback and a key advisor to both to me and the business,” U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt said in a statement.

Additionally, Scot Duncan was appointed SVP, general counsel & secretary, effective immediately.

Duncan has worked across the organization to provide counsel on commercial, corporate, and transactional matters for a decade.

“Scot has been working hand-in-hand with Duane throughout the last several years as the day-to-day lead for the legal team. His contributions were essential to completing our partnership with Nippon Steel,” Burritt said.  

Recall that Nippon and USS finalized their partnership last week after facing regulatory hurdles since first announcing the deal in December 2023.

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

Read more from Ethan Bernard

Latest in Steel Mills